Electronic price tag control method, electronic price tag and electronic price tag system

Abstract

The invention discloses an electronic price tag control method, an electronic price tag and an electronic price tag system, and the method comprises the steps: gradually adjusting the operation power of a wireless tag reading module on the electronic price tag from a preset power until a first power and a second power which are adjacent are determined, the first power is the operation power that the wireless tag reading module can read the identifier of the wireless tag bound with the electronic price tag, and the second power is the operation power that the wireless tag reading module cannot read the identifier of the wireless tag bound with the electronic price tag; the wireless tag is mounted on a guide rail of a goods shelf and carries position information, and the electronic price tag is positioned by reading an identifier of the wireless tag through the wireless tag reading module; and determining that the first power is the working condition power of the wireless tag reading module. According to the invention, the technical problems of too high energy consumption, poor reading stability, signal interference and weak scene adaptability caused by unreasonable power setting of the wireless tag reading module can be solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an electronic price tag control method, an electronic price tag, and an electronic price tag system. Background Technology

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for the embodiments of the invention set forth in the claims. The description herein is not an admission that it is prior art simply because it is included in this section.

[0003] Currently, the wireless tag reading module of electronic shelf labels operates at a fixed power, which cannot be adjusted by the electronic shelf label itself. This setting has obvious drawbacks: On the one hand, if a fixed high power is used, although it can ensure stable reading of the bound wireless tag, it will lead to a significant increase in the power consumption of the electronic shelf label and shorten the battery life (electronic shelf labels mostly rely on built-in batteries for power, and frequent battery replacements will increase operating costs); on the other hand, if a fixed low power is used, the signal strength may be insufficient to stably read the wireless tag, resulting in the failure of electronic shelf label positioning, which in turn will cause errors in the display of product information (such as the product displayed on the price tag not matching the actual product displayed). Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an electronic price tag control method that solves the technical problems of high power consumption and poor reading stability caused by a fixed power setting of the wireless tag reading module, including: The operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is adjusted to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The wireless tag is installed on the shelf rail and carries location information. The electronic price tag is located by reading the wireless tag's identifier through the wireless tag reading module.

[0005] This invention provides an electronic price tag that solves the technical problems of high power consumption and poor reading stability caused by a fixed power setting of the wireless tag reading module, including: The control module is used to: adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic shelf label to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic shelf label; the wireless tag is installed on the guide rail of the shelf and carries location information, and the electronic shelf label is located by reading the identifier of the wireless tag through the wireless tag reading module; The wireless tag reading module is used to read the identifier of the wireless tag attached to the electronic price tag.

[0006] This invention provides an electronic price tag system that can solve the technical problems of high power consumption and poor reading stability caused by the fixed power setting of the wireless tag reading module. The system includes at least one electronic price tag and a server.

[0007] This invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the above-described electronic price tag control method.

[0008] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic price tag control method.

[0009] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic price tag control method.

[0010] In this embodiment of the invention, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label to a first power can solve the high energy consumption problem caused by fixed high power: While fixed high power operation in the prior art can guarantee reading effect, it significantly increases the energy consumption of the electronic shelf label, shortens battery life, and increases operating costs. By finding a first power (lower than the current operating power) that can read the tag identifier, power redundancy is avoided, energy consumption is reduced, and reading stability is ensured. The above solution can also solve the signal interference problem caused by improper power: excessively high power may interfere with the reading modules of adjacent electronic shelf labels, leading to misreading. A lower operating power (first power) can reduce signal overflow and lower the risk of interference. Different shelf materials, environmental conditions, and tag aging levels can affect the reading distance; a fixed power is not suitable. By adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label, the optimal power can be dynamically determined for specific scenarios, improving the adaptability of the electronic shelf label. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings: Figure 1 This illustrates the correspondence between wireless tag location information, electronic price tags, wireless tags, and goods in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structural relationship between the electronic price tag system and the guide rail in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a first flowchart of the electronic price tag control method in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a second flowchart of the electronic price tag control in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a first flowchart illustrating the adjustment of the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a second flowchart illustrating the adjustment of the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a third flowchart in an embodiment of the present invention, showing how to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power. Figure 8 This is a fourth flowchart in an embodiment of the present invention, showing how to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power. Figure 9 This is a first structural diagram of the electronic price tag in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a second structural diagram of the electronic price tag in this invention embodiment; Figure 11 This is a third structural diagram of the electronic price tag in this invention embodiment; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic price tag system in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0012] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0013] In an electronic shelf label system, the server stores wireless tag location information (the physical location of the wireless tag on the shelf, which may include the shelf number, the row number of the wireless tag, and the distance of the wireless tag from one end of the shelf), display information (the location of the product on the shelf), electronic shelf label binding information (the electronic shelf label identifier and the corresponding product information), and product display information. Figure 1 To establish the existing technology regarding the correspondence between wireless tag location information, electronic price tags, wireless tags, and goods, in... Figure 1In the corresponding relationship, the server only needs to determine the location information of the wireless tag, the wireless tag identifier, the electronic price tag identifier, the product identifier, and the product display information to complete the binding of electronic price tags and the display of corresponding product information. The server can also quickly determine the location of various products and electronic price tags.

[0014] Existing electronic shelf labels generally include a wireless tag reading module, which is an RFID or NFC communication module. The wireless tag reading module is used to activate the wireless tags located on the guide rail and read the wireless tag identifier. The wireless tags are installed on the guide rail of the shelf, with multiple wireless tags evenly arranged. The size is generally 1-3cm. The wireless tag carries its position on the guide rail of the shelf. The electronic shelf labels installed on the guide rail can realize the positioning of the electronic shelf labels by sensing the wireless tags.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structural relationship between the electronic shelf label system and the guide rail in an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic shelf label system includes electronic shelf labels, a PDA (optional), a backend server, etc. The electronic shelf label includes a shell, a screen, a control module, a communication module, a wireless tag reading module, and LED lights (optional). The screen is used to display information based on information from the control module, including product price information, location information, discount information, promotional information, shelf information, shelf adjustment information, etc. The control module is used to send and / or receive instructions through the communication module and the wireless tag reading module to control the information displayed on the screen and control the LED lights, etc. The communication module is used to communicate with a base station or server. The wireless tag reading module is an RFID or NFC communication module. The wireless tag reading module is used to activate the wireless tags located on the guide rail and read the wireless tag identifiers. The wireless tags are installed on the guide rail of the shelf, with multiple wireless tags evenly arranged, generally 1-3cm in size. The wireless tags carry their positions on the guide rail of the shelf. The electronic shelf labels installed on the guide rail can achieve electronic shelf label positioning by sensing the wireless tags.

[0016] The communication module of the electronic shelf label is configured to communicate with the base station and upload the electronic shelf label identifier and the wireless tag identifier to the server.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic shelf label has an initialization mode and a display positioning mode. In the initialization mode, the electronic shelf label, the product, and the location information are bound together. The initialization process is further divided into a manual display generation mode and an automatic display generation mode, depending on the method of binding the electronic shelf label to the product.

[0018] Manual display generation mode: When the server has initialized A (wireless tag location information) but not associated with B (product display information) and C (electronic price tag binding information), the shelf information can be obtained by using a (handheld) external device (PDA, which can be a mobile phone, a dedicated external device, a shopping cart component, etc.) to select the shelf. The shelf can be locked by scanning the shelf QR code, scanning the wireless tag at the end of the shelf, or other means. The product barcode and electronic shelf label are scanned (this can be done via a camera, barcode scanner, or a PDA reader using NFC, RFID, or a wireless tag reader). The electronic shelf label reads the wireless tag identifier via the wireless tag reader. Then, the product identifier, shelf label identifier, and wireless tag identifier are transmitted to the base station via the communication module, and then from the base station to the server. The server generates B and C based on the above information and sends the corresponding product display information D to the electronic shelf label via the communication module. If A, B, and C already exist, but the server enters modification mode to adjust the information binding relationship, the PDA can be used to select the product identifier, electronic shelf label identifier to be modified, or the wireless tag identifier can be reread to obtain the new position. The above binding information acquisition and data transmission process is not strictly limited in order; those skilled in the art can adjust the order according to the actual situation to ensure that the server can obtain the corresponding information and generate the display information and binding relationship. During the manual binding process, when the server still stores product display information, after receiving the information transmitted by the base station, the server can also compare the currently acquired display information with the product display information stored in the server. If it finds that the currently received display information does not match the stored display information (for example, Sprite is actually displayed in a certain position, but the stored display information is Coca-Cola), an error will be reported and the display error prompt information will be sent to the PDA to quickly remind employees to make adjustments.

[0019] Automatic display generation mode: When A and B are present on the server, but C is absent, electronic price tags are bound to the corresponding positions on the shelf. The electronic price tags transmit their price tag identifiers and wireless tag identifiers to the server via a communication module. The server determines the binding relationship between the price tag identifier and the product based on A, B, and the corresponding wireless tag identifier (i.e., wireless tag location information), and then sends the corresponding product display information D to the electronic price tag via the communication module. In both the manual and automatic display generation modes described above, the acquisition method and order of the four pieces of information (A, B, C, and D) are unrestricted during the binding process of electronic price tags and wireless tags.

[0020] The display positioning mode is applied to the daily operation of electronic price tags, which can save power. The electronic price tag activates the communication module to listen at the first interval; and activates the wireless tag reading module to poll and read wireless tag information at the second interval.

[0021] This invention also proposes a novel site survey mode for determining the operating power of electronic price tags. The site survey mode does not affect the normal communication of the electronic price tags, nor other modes; that is, in site survey mode, the electronic price tags can perform normal operations such as refreshing, changing prices, listening to frames, and communicating. The operating power of the wireless tag reading module is the operating power.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a first flowchart of an electronic shelf label control method in an embodiment of the present invention. The method is applied to at least one electronic shelf label in a supermarket retail environment and includes: Step 301: Adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The wireless tag is installed on the shelf rail and carries location information. The electronic price tag is located by reading the wireless tag's identifier through the wireless tag reading module.

[0023] In this embodiment of the invention, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label to a first power can solve the high energy consumption problem caused by fixed high power: While fixed high power operation in the prior art can guarantee reading effect, it significantly increases the energy consumption of the electronic shelf label, shortens battery life, and increases operating costs. By finding a first power (lower than the current operating power) that can read the tag identifier, power redundancy is avoided, energy consumption is reduced, and reading stability is ensured. The above solution can also solve the signal interference problem caused by improper power: excessively high power may interfere with the reading modules of adjacent electronic shelf labels, leading to misreading. A lower operating power (first power) can reduce signal overflow and lower the risk of interference. Different shelf materials, environmental conditions, and tag aging levels can affect the reading distance; a fixed power is not suitable. By adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label, the optimal power can be dynamically determined for specific scenarios, improving the adaptability of the electronic shelf label.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a second flowchart of electronic shelf label control in an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, before adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic shelf label to a first power, the following steps are further included: Step 401: Control the binding of the electronic price tag to the wireless tag; Step 402: After the electronic price tag is bound to the wireless tag, control the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to operate at the second power. Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power (step 301) includes: Step 403: Determine whether the first power exists; Step 404: If the first power exists, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

[0025] In practice, initial binding is required first. At this time, the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag operates at the second power. Then, the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic price tag can be adjusted immediately. For example, the operating power can be adjusted in the next communication cycle after the initial binding and information display are completed; or the site survey can be carried out after a preset time (e.g., 30s, 1min, ..., 10min) after the initial binding and information display are completed.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first power is the minimum operating power at which the wireless tag reading module reads the identifier of the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The method further includes: The first power is determined to be the operating power of the wireless tag reader module.

[0027] The power consumption under the above operating conditions is the minimum power required to read the current location, which reduces the daily power consumption of electronic price tags, improves battery life, and does not affect positioning.

[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, by determining the operating power of the wireless tag reading module to be the minimum operating power required to read the wireless tag identifier bound to the electronic shelf label at the current location, the power consumption during the daily positioning process of the electronic shelf label can be significantly reduced. While ensuring normal positioning function, this effectively extends the lifespan of the built-in battery of the electronic shelf label, reduces battery replacement frequency, and lowers maintenance costs. Setting the operating power to the minimum power required to read the current location avoids energy waste caused by excessive power while ensuring stable reading of the wireless tag at the current location. Positioning accuracy and reliability are not affected by power adjustments, achieving a balance between energy saving and positioning effectiveness. Reducing battery consumption not only lowers user costs but also reduces the generation of waste batteries, aligning with the technological development trend of energy conservation and environmental protection, and yielding good economic and environmental benefits. The lower operating power makes the electronic shelf label more advantageous in energy-sensitive scenarios (such as unmanned retail cabinets and densely packed display areas in large supermarkets), expanding the applicability of electronic shelf labels.

[0029] In one embodiment, it further includes: When the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is able to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag continuously for a preset number of times at a first power, the first power is determined to be the operating power of the wireless tag reading module.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, if the operating power is determined solely by a single successful read, occasional signal fluctuations (such as temporary sleep of surrounding devices leading to reduced interference, or the wireless tag being briefly in a strong signal area) may mistakenly identify unstable power as valid operating power. Requiring the wireless tag reading module to successfully read the tag a preset number of times at a first power level effectively filters out such accidental factors. Only when the first power consistently captures the wireless tag identifier across multiple reading cycles, demonstrating its ability to continuously adapt to the current environment, is it determined as the operating power. For example, during peak hours in a shopping mall, interference from surrounding mobile phone signals and POS equipment signals is frequent. If the preset number of reads is set to 3, only when the first power successfully reads the tag 3 times consecutively can the accidental success during a single interference gap be eliminated, ensuring stable operation of the operating power even in complex interference environments and significantly reducing the risk of reading failures due to power instability in subsequent use.

[0031] The environment in which electronic shelf labels operate is not static (e.g., frequent shelf rearrangement by supermarket staff causing minor adjustments to product positions, or signal obstruction caused by the movement of temporary promotional displays). A single successful read cannot verify the power's adaptability to dynamic environments. The criterion of consecutive successful reads within a preset number of times is essentially a dynamic test of the initial power's environmental adaptability. If the initial power can consistently achieve successful reads within multiple read intervals (which may be accompanied by slight environmental changes), it proves that it not only adapts to the current environment but also has a certain degree of resistance to environmental fluctuations. For example, if a customer takes a product from the shelf and rearranges it, the relative position of the wireless tag and the electronic shelf label may slightly shift. If the initial power can achieve five consecutive successful reads, it indicates that the power can cover the signal differences caused by such slight positional changes, improving the electronic shelf label's resilience in dynamic scenarios.

[0032] If unstable power is mistakenly identified as the operating power, electronic shelf labels will frequently fail to read in subsequent use, requiring re-entry into the site survey mode to adjust the power, increasing the repetitive operation costs for maintenance personnel. However, by using a preset number of consecutive successful reads to identify stable power, the effective lifespan of the operating power can be significantly extended, reducing the number of site surveys required due to power compatibility failures. For example, if a convenience store uses a standard of four consecutive successful reads to determine the operating power for its electronic shelf labels, compared to a single successful read, the probability of operating power failure is reduced by more than 60%, and the number of devices requiring monthly site surveys is reduced from 20 to 5, significantly reducing the workload of maintenance personnel and lowering long-term system operating costs.

[0033] Unstable pseudo-operating power can present two problems: first, excessive power (although reads may succeed occasionally, high power is still needed most of the time due to interference, resulting in wasted energy); second, excessive power (reads may succeed only occasionally when the signal is good, but repeated attempts are needed most of the time, increasing energy consumption). A preset criterion for determining a successful read a certain number of times can filter out the optimal power that just meets the requirements for stable reading. This avoids both using excessively high power to compensate for environmental fluctuations and avoiding repeated retries due to insufficient power, thus minimizing the energy consumption of the wireless tag reading module. For example, in a low-temperature warehouse environment (where battery activity is reduced), stable operating power can avoid the extra power consumption caused by repeated readings, extending the battery life of electronic price tags by 20%~30%, reducing battery replacement frequency and material costs.

[0034] The preset number of reads can be dynamically adjusted to meet the accuracy requirements of different scenarios. For scenarios with extremely high reliability requirements (such as high-value goods shelves and pharmaceutical warehouses, requiring 100% accuracy), the preset number of reads can be set to 5 or 8. For scenarios with higher efficiency requirements and more stable environments (such as daily necessities shelves and off-peak hours), the preset number of reads can be set to 2 or 3. This flexibility allows the technology to adapt to the needs of different industries and scenarios. For example, pharmaceutical retail companies can set the preset number of reads to 6 to ensure zero error in drug label reading and meet regulatory requirements; ordinary supermarket daily necessities sections can be set to 2 to accelerate the reading process while ensuring reliability, balancing accuracy and efficiency. Unstable operating power may lead to "misreading" or "missed reading" of the read data (such as misreading product A's label as product B, or missing some product labels). This erroneous data can mislead business decisions (such as incorrectly judging product sales or incorrectly adjusting prices). The stable power of continuous preset number of reads with successful filtering can minimize data errors and ensure that the label data uploaded to the server is true and accurate. For example, in fresh produce management, accurate label reading data can help companies accurately calculate fresh produce spoilage rates, optimize procurement volume and promotional strategies, avoid operational losses due to data errors, and improve the credibility and scientific nature of business decisions.

[0035] In one embodiment, when the wireless tag reading module of the electronic shelf label reads only the identifier of one wireless tag, the wireless tag bound to the electronic shelf label is the wireless tag whose identifier has been read; When the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag reads the identifiers of multiple wireless tags, the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag is the wireless tag with the highest signal strength among the multiple wireless tags.

[0036] When binding electronic shelf labels to wireless tags, the binding target is determined by the number of tag identifiers read by the wireless tag reading module and the signal strength, greatly improving the binding accuracy. When the wireless tag reading module can only read the identifier of one wireless tag, it is directly identified as the wireless tag for binding, avoiding misbinding that may be caused by manual operation or other ambiguous judgment methods, ensuring that each electronic shelf label accurately corresponds to the product it is responsible for displaying information. In supermarkets or warehouse environments with a wide variety of products, this precise binding allows staff to quickly and accurately obtain detailed product information, such as price and inventory, through electronic shelf labels, effectively reducing sales errors and inventory management chaos caused by mismatches between shelf labels and products, and improving the accuracy and reliability of the entire product management process.

[0037] After binding, the electronic shelf label enters the site survey mode, which involves adjusting the operating power and determining the working condition power. This automates the workflow, eliminating the need for manual triggering of the site survey mode and saving operation time and labor costs. Simultaneously, this automatic entry mechanism can promptly test and determine the working condition power of newly bound electronic shelf labels, enabling them to quickly enter a stable working state and ensuring they can read wireless tag identifiers with optimal power settings, thus improving the overall data reading and transmission efficiency of the system. For large retail enterprises that need to rapidly deploy and put into use a large number of electronic shelf labels, this mechanism can significantly shorten the time cycle from installation and binding to normal operation, accelerating the preparation for new store openings or the re-operation of upgraded stores, thereby improving the enterprise's operational efficiency and market responsiveness.

[0038] When the wireless tag reading module can read the identifiers of multiple wireless tags, it selects the wireless tag with the strongest signal strength for binding, which helps enhance the communication stability between the electronic shelf label and the wireless tag. A strong signal means less interference during data transmission, enabling more reliable reading of the wireless tag's identification information and reducing reading errors and data loss. In complex electromagnetic environments, such as shopping malls where multiple electronic devices operate simultaneously, this binding method based on signal strength selection ensures the quality of the communication link between the electronic shelf label and the wireless tag, guaranteeing accurate acquisition and timely updates of product information. This provides consumers with accurate product prices and related information displays, enhancing their shopping experience, and also provides stable data support for businesses' precision marketing and inventory management.

[0039] Accurate binding and automatic entry into site survey mode with optimized operating power can reduce the probability of electronic shelf labels malfunctioning during use. Because the operating power is precisely determined based on actual communication needs, electronic shelf labels will not suffer from excessive power consumption or signal instability due to improper power settings, thus reducing the frequency of equipment damage and maintenance. For enterprises deploying electronic shelf labels on a large scale, this can save significant equipment maintenance costs, including labor costs and equipment replacement costs. At the same time, the stable and reliable operation of the electronic shelf label system also helps improve the operational reliability of enterprises, preventing disruptions to sales and inventory management due to electronic shelf label malfunctions, ensuring the normal operation of business, and enhancing the enterprise's economic benefits and market competitiveness.

[0040] The precise binding of electronic shelf labels (ESCs) to wireless tags, along with the recording of subsequent related information, provides a rich foundation of data for correlation and analysis. Businesses can correlate ESC binding information, operating power information, and product sales and inventory data for analysis. By analyzing the sales performance of ESCs for different products under varying operating power conditions, businesses can understand the impact of signal strength and communication stability on product sales, thereby optimizing product layout and ESC deployment strategies. If signal issues are found to be causing poor sales in certain areas, businesses can adjust the layout of electronic devices in those areas or strengthen signal enhancement measures. This data-driven analysis and decision-making optimization helps businesses better adapt to market demands, improve resource utilization efficiency, achieve more refined business operation management, and provide strong support for long-term development.

[0041] Figure 5 This is a first flowchart illustrating the adjustment of the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power includes: Step 501: After the communication module on the electronic price tag receives the power adjustment command from the server, it adjusts the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

[0042] By receiving power adjustment commands from the server via the communication module before entering the inspection mode, the electronic shelf label system possesses the core advantages of centralized control and on-demand triggering. The server can uniformly or in batches schedule the inspection mode for electronic shelf labels in different areas and on different shelves according to overall operational needs, avoiding the inefficiency of traditional decentralized operations (such as manual inspection of each shelf individually). For example, after a large supermarket adjusts its overall shelving, the server can send power adjustment commands to all affected electronic shelf labels at once, simultaneously completing power calibration, significantly shortening the system adaptation cycle and improving the flexibility and response speed of operational adjustments.

[0043] As the system's central hub, the server integrates data from across the entire system (such as environmental parameters for different areas and historical operating data from electronic price tags). Before sending power adjustment commands, it can combine global data to formulate more precise site survey strategies (such as specifying power adjustment step size and testing cycle) and synchronize these strategies to the electronic price tags via commands. Compared to electronic price tags autonomously triggering site surveys (which may be subject to local environmental interference leading to a single strategy), the server-triggered command mode allows the site survey process to better align with global optimal needs, ensuring that the operating power configuration of different electronic price tags is compatible with the overall system. This reduces power waste or signal instability caused by local data deviations, thereby guaranteeing the consistency and reliability of data transmission throughout the system.

[0044] By remotely sending commands through a server, unmanned operation of the site survey process can be achieved. Staff only need to issue commands through the server in the background to monitor the progress of the entire process. This model significantly reduces manual intervention, lowers labor costs, and avoids system risks caused by human error, thereby improving the stability and efficiency of the site survey process. In dynamically changing scenarios such as shopping malls and warehouses (e.g., setting up temporary promotional areas, adjusting seasonal merchandise shelves, sudden electromagnetic interference, etc.), the server can sense changes in the scene in real time and trigger power adjustment commands. For example, when the addition of high-power electronic equipment (such as cold chain display cabinets) to a certain area causes a change in the local electromagnetic environment, the server can monitor the signal transmission data of electronic price tags in that area. Upon detecting an anomaly, it can immediately send a power adjustment command to recalibrate the operating power of the electronic price tags, ensuring that the wireless tag identification can still be stably read after environmental changes, enhancing the system's adaptability and operational resilience to dynamic scenarios.

[0045] When electronic shelf labels exhibit abnormal power consumption (such as decreased read success rate or excessive power consumption), staff can remotely initiate operational testing by sending power adjustment commands to the target electronic shelf label via the server, eliminating the need for on-site troubleshooting. The server can simultaneously receive data from the operational testing process (such as power change curves and label read results), quickly pinpoint the cause of the fault (e.g., whether environmental interference has caused power compatibility failure), and remotely adjust the operational testing strategy. This remote diagnostics + precise repair model reduces on-site maintenance time costs, shortens system downtime due to faults, and ensures the continuity of the merchandise management process.

[0046] The server sends power adjustment commands at the following times: (1) When a store adds electronic shelf labels (such as when a new store opens or the shelf space is expanded), the server will immediately send a power adjustment command after completing the configuration of binding the electronic shelf labels with the wireless tags. Sending the command at this time ensures that the newly deployed electronic shelf labels complete the power calibration before being put into use, avoiding the inability to read the tags or excessive power consumption due to improper initial power configuration, and ensuring that the new equipment can be quickly adapted to the existing system.

[0047] (2) When changes occur in the store environment or hardware equipment that affect signal transmission, the server needs to send power adjustment commands promptly. Specifically, this includes: Shelf hardware adjustments: such as changing the shelving material (from wooden shelves to metal shelves, which improves signal attenuation), adjusting shelf spacing or layout; Changes to surrounding equipment: such as the addition of high-power electronic equipment (e.g., generators, large cold chain equipment), or adjustments to the location of wireless communication base stations; Changes in environmental parameters: such as a sudden increase in warehouse humidity (affecting wireless signal transmission), or temporary metal partitions erected in shopping malls (creating signal shielding areas).

[0048] After obtaining change information through sensors or manual reporting, the server will send power adjustment instructions to the electronic price tags in the affected area to recalibrate the operating power.

[0049] (3) The server will send power adjustment instructions to the electronic price tags of the entire system or key areas according to a preset cycle (such as weekly or monthly) to initiate regular site surveys. This operation can promptly correct problems such as power drift caused by long-term use of electronic price tags (such as the deviation between actual power and initial configuration due to battery aging) and cumulative environmental changes (such as dust accumulation affecting signal reception), ensuring that electronic price tags are always in the optimal working state and avoiding signal instability or increased energy consumption due to long-term lack of calibration.

[0050] (4) The server monitors the operating data of electronic price tags in real time (such as tag reading success rate, data upload frequency, power consumption, etc.). When abnormal data is detected (such as the electronic price tag reading success rate of a certain area being lower than 90% for 5 consecutive minutes and the power consumption suddenly increasing by 20%), the emergency mechanism will be automatically triggered to send a power adjustment command to the abnormal electronic price tag. By re-investigating and locating the problem (such as whether the reading failure is due to insufficient power) and quickly calibrating the power configuration, the abnormal problem can be automatically detected and automatically repaired, reducing the impact on the commodity management process.

[0051] (5) In scenarios with clear business needs, staff can manually trigger power adjustment commands via servers or mobile devices such as handheld terminals. For example: Temporary promotional activities: Temporary promotional shelves are set up in the mall atrium. Staff send power adjustment instructions to the electronic price tags in this area via a server to ensure that the price tags work stably during the promotion period. Preparation before inventory count: Before conducting the monthly inventory count, warehouse staff trigger a site survey via the server to ensure that electronic price tags can read inventory labels with optimal power, thereby improving the accuracy of inventory count data; After the system version is updated: After the electronic price tag completes the firmware update, the server sends a power adjustment command to verify the power compatibility under the new firmware and ensure stable operation after the system update.

[0052] Figure 6 This is a second flowchart illustrating the adjustment of the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power includes: Step 601: Starting from the maximum value among multiple configured power values ​​in the preset power group, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power in descending order.

[0053] In specific implementation, the maximum power value can be selected for initial binding and initialization of electronic price tags. During initialization, an external device is used to scan (either a QR code / barcode or an NFC scan) the electronic price tags and product identifiers (such as barcodes, QR codes, etc.) on the shelf, and the data is uploaded to the server using the external device or the electronic price tag. Then, the service control binds the electronic price tags and wireless tags.

[0054] During the initialization phase of electronic shelf labels, the maximum power value can be used as the preset power for initial binding, maximizing the signal reception range of the wireless tags. Since the positional relationship between the electronic shelf labels and the merchandise may not be fully fixed during initialization (e.g., merchandise placement is not yet finalized in the early stages of shelf display), the maximum power value ensures that the wireless tag reading module can stably capture the target wireless tag's identifier even in complex scenarios (e.g., densely stacked merchandise, signal attenuation due to shelf material), avoiding reading failures due to insufficient initial power. Combined with the process of scanning electronic shelf labels and merchandise identifiers with external devices (such as mobile phones or barcode scanners) and uploading them to the server, precise synchronization of binding information is further achieved. This dual guarantee of signal coverage and data matching ensures a high success rate for initial binding, reducing rework costs caused by binding failures.

[0055] When decreasing the power from its maximum value, there's no need to test invalid values ​​in the low-power range one by one; the power range that allows for stable tag reading can be quickly approximated. For example, in a metal shelf environment, signal attenuation is rapid. If testing starts from a low power level, multiple adjustments may be needed to reach an effective reading power. However, by decreasing the power from its maximum value, the transition from an effective reading state to an invalid state can be direct, quickly locking in the adjacent first power (effective) and second power (invalid), significantly shortening the time required to determine the operating power. Especially in scenarios where electronic shelf labels are initialized in batches in stores (such as new store openings or entire store shelf updates), this significantly improves overall initialization efficiency and accelerates the deployment of electronic shelf labels.

[0056] The initial binding phase is often accompanied by complex environmental interference such as personnel movement and equipment debugging. Maximum power enhances the anti-interference capability of the wireless tag reading module. Even in the presence of temporary electronic devices (such as walkie-talkies for debugging or barcode scanner signals), it can still penetrate the interference source with a strong signal and accurately identify the target wireless tag. Simultaneously, external devices scan product identification and electronic price tag information and upload it to the server. The server centrally controls the binding process, avoiding errors from manual input and further ensuring the accuracy of binding between electronic price tags and product wireless tags. This lays a reliable data foundation for subsequent product management (such as price updates and inventory checks).

[0057] Figure 7 This is a third flowchart illustrating the process of adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power includes: Step 701: Starting from the minimum power value among multiple configured power values ​​in the preset power group, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power in an increasing order.

[0058] By gradually increasing the power from its minimum value, the lowest effective power (i.e., the first power) that meets the tag reading requirements can be prioritized, avoiding energy waste caused by excessive power. Electronic shelf labels are mostly battery-powered and need to be in standby and operating states for extended periods. Accurately determining the minimum effective power minimizes the energy consumption of the wireless tag reading module. For example, in a well-ventilated, unobstructed wooden shelf environment, stable reading can be achieved with low power. In this case, the operating power determined by gradually increasing from the minimum value, compared to fixed high power operation, can extend battery life by 30% to 50%, reducing the manpower and material costs of battery replacements in stores and lowering long-term system operating expenses.

[0059] When multiple electronic shelf labels are densely deployed on the same shelf (such as snack shelves in convenience stores or medicine shelves in pharmacies), if they all operate at high power, signal superposition interference can easily occur, leading to tag reading crosstalk (such as misreading tags from adjacent shelves). Determining the operating power from the minimum value in increments allows the signal coverage of each electronic shelf label to accurately match the wireless tag of its corresponding product, reducing signal redundancy and diffusion. By designing different operating power levels for each electronic shelf label based on its own situation and environment, differentiated adaptation of signals from multiple devices can be achieved, avoiding mutual interference, ensuring the stability of electronic shelf label data reading and transmission throughout the entire shelf area, and improving the overall system efficiency.

[0060] Figure 8This is a fourth flowchart illustrating the process of adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power in one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power includes: Step 801: Obtain the signal strength in the surrounding environment within a first preset time period collected by the wireless tag reading module, input it into the environmental signal strength model, and determine the interference source situation. The environmental signal strength model is obtained by training a machine learning model based on historical signal strength data. Step 802: If the interference source is present and the signal strength of the interference source is greater than the strength threshold, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power in the non-interference frequency band of the interference source.

[0061] Before the electronic price tag enters the site survey mode, the signal strength in the surrounding environment is obtained within a first preset time period (e.g., 5 minutes), and the signal strength fluctuations in different time periods and directions are recorded. This data is then analyzed to construct a preliminary environmental signal strength model and identify potential interference sources (such as whether it is co-channel interference from other electronic devices or signal shielding interference caused by metal objects, etc.).

[0062] If the interference source is present and its signal strength is greater than the strength threshold, the electronic price tag will enter the site survey mode in the non-interference frequency band of the interference source.

[0063] Figure 9 This is a first structural diagram of an electronic price tag in an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic price tag includes: a control module 901 and a wireless tag reading module 902. The control module is used to: adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic shelf label to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic shelf label; the wireless tag is installed on the guide rail of the shelf and carries location information, and the electronic shelf label is located by reading the identifier of the wireless tag through the wireless tag reading module; The wireless tag reading module is used to read the identifier of the wireless tag attached to the electronic price tag.

[0064] Figure 10 This is a second structural diagram of the electronic shelf label in one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the electronic shelf label further includes: Binding module 1001 is used to control the binding of the electronic price tag to the wireless tag; The judgment module 1002 is used to determine whether the first power exists; The control module 901 is also used to: control the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to operate at a second power after the electronic price tag is bound to the wireless tag; If the first power is present, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

[0065] In one embodiment, the first power is the minimum operating power at which the wireless tag reading module reads the identifier of the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The control module is also used to: determine the first power as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module; The wireless tag reading module is used to periodically read the identifier of the wireless tag according to the first cycle and the operating power. Figure 11 The third structural diagram of the electronic price tag in this invention embodiment is shown. The electronic price tag also includes a communication module 1101, which reports the identification of the wireless tag to the server.

[0066] The wireless tag reading module periodically reads the tags according to the first cycle and operating power, continuously and dynamically confirming the stability of the binding relationship between electronic shelf labels and corresponding products. In retail scenarios, products may change location due to restocking, display adjustments, or customers taking and returning them. Periodic readings can promptly detect anomalies in the association between electronic shelf labels and product wireless tags (such as tags falling off or misplaced products resulting in unreadable tags). Simultaneously, the communication module reports the read tags to the server in real time, enabling the backend management system to synchronously update key data such as product location and inventory. This avoids problems such as price tag mismatches and inventory calculation errors caused by data lag, providing data support for precise product management.

[0067] By receiving wireless tag data reported by each electronic shelf label, the server can monitor the real-time display status and availability of merchandise across the entire store. For example, if a product's electronic shelf label fails to receive a wireless tag for several consecutive periods, the server can quickly determine that the product may be out of stock or display abnormally, promptly sending restocking or reorganization reminders to staff, thus shortening out-of-stock periods and improving the customer shopping experience. Furthermore, based on the large amount of real-time reported tag data, the server can also analyze merchandise turnover efficiency (such as the restocking frequency of best-selling items and the display adjustment needs of slow-moving items), providing data support for operational strategy optimization (such as promotional activity layout and shelf space allocation), and helping merchants improve operational efficiency.

[0068] The duration of the first cycle can be changed depending on the power management mode; for example, the duration of the first cycle can be reduced when entering a low-power mode.

[0069] In one embodiment, the communication module is further configured to: Receive power adjustment commands from the server; The control module is used to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power according to the power adjustment command.

[0070] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic price tag system in an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic price tag system includes at least one electronic price tag 1201 and a server 1202.

[0071] In one embodiment, the server is further configured to: Electronic shelf labels are grouped according to preset grouping criteria, which include at least one of the following: shelf material, type of electronic shelf label, or size of electronic shelf label. Control all electronic price tags in each group to use the same operating power.

[0072] In this embodiment of the invention, the materials of the shelves include plastic shelving units, metal, etc. The shelves can be grouped when generating information A, or they can be grouped during binding according to preset grouping standards in the display generation mode.

[0073] In one embodiment, the server is further configured to: The shelves are grouped; within each group, a target shelf containing the target electronic shelf label is identified, and the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the target electronic shelf label on the target shelf is determined as the operating power of the group. The operating power of the wireless tag reading modules of the electronic shelf labels on at least some of the shelves in the group other than the target shelf is configured as the operating power of the group. The target electronic shelf label is an electronic shelf label whose operating power of the wireless tag reading module has been determined.

[0074] In this embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tags on the shelves other than the target shelf in the group do not require site surveying. The current operating power of the wireless tag reading module in these electronic price tags may not be the minimum power. Therefore, the operating power sent by the server can be directly received as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module, reducing the workload of site surveying.

[0075] In an electronic shelf label (ESC) system, only the target shelves containing the target ESC within each group need to be surveyed to determine the operating power of the target ESC on the target shelf. The ESCs on the remaining shelves within the group do not require separate surveys; they simply receive the operating power data from the server. This design avoids the repetitive operation of surveying each shelf and each ESC individually, as is common in traditional models. This is especially significant in large retail stores or warehouses with numerous shelves and densely deployed ESCs, greatly reducing the workload for staff. For example, a large supermarket with 100 shelves can be divided into 10 groups based on scenario similarity. Each group only needs to survey 10 ESCs on one target shelf. Compared to surveying each of the 100 shelves individually, this reduces the survey workload by 90%, significantly saving manpower and time costs, and accelerating system deployment or update cycles.

[0076] The site survey process involves operations such as power adjustment and data recording. The more operations performed, the higher the probability of human error (such as incorrect power recording or omissions in site survey steps). By determining the operating power in groups, the total number of site survey operations is reduced, indirectly lowering the possibility of human error. Simultaneously, the server uniformly calculates and distributes the grouped operating power, avoiding power configuration differences caused by varying site survey standards among different staff, ensuring consistency in the power configuration of electronic price tags within the same group, and improving system operational stability.

[0077] When the server groups all shelves, it typically does so based on similarities in characteristics such as the shelf's environment (e.g., lighting conditions, electromagnetic interference levels), shelf material, and product type. Shelves within the same group have highly similar usage scenarios and generally consistent power requirements for electronic shelf tags. Determining the group's power requirements based on the target shelf's electronic shelf tag power and distributing this information to other shelves within the same group ensures that the power configuration of these electronic shelf tags is adapted to their respective scenarios. This avoids both insufficient power leading to wireless tag reading failures and excessive power causing energy waste or signal interference. For example, power requirements are determined separately for groups containing metal shelves and groups containing wooden shelves. The metal shelf group's power requirements are adapted to environments with strong signal attenuation, while the wooden shelf group's power requirements are adapted to environments with more stable signal transmission, ensuring stable operation of electronic shelf tags in different scenarios. The electronic shelf tags upload their power requirements to the server, which centrally stores the power requirements data for all groups. Staff can view the power configuration of each group in real time through the server backend. When the environment within a group changes (such as increased electromagnetic interference due to the addition of new equipment), it is only necessary to re-survey the target shelves of that group and update the group's operating power. The server can then quickly distribute the new power to all electronic shelf labels in that group, enabling centralized and rapid adjustment of the system's power configuration. Compared to the traditional method of adjusting the power of each electronic shelf label individually, this significantly improves the flexibility and response speed of system control, ensuring that the system always operates in optimal condition.

[0078] During the site survey of electronic shelf labels, the wireless tag reading module requires multiple power adjustments for testing, consuming a certain amount of electricity. Reducing the number of site surveys directly lowers energy consumption during this phase. Furthermore, the power settings determined by the server for each group's operating condition are based on actual site survey data of the target shelf, ensuring the electronic shelf labels operate at the optimal power for the scenario and avoiding unnecessary energy consumption due to improper power configuration (such as excessive power). For example, if a site survey determines that a group's operating condition requires only 50% power for stable tag reading, and the electronic shelf label does not require a separate site survey, directly using this power, compared to blindly setting it to 80%, can significantly reduce daily operating energy consumption, extend the battery life of the electronic shelf labels, and reduce battery replacement frequency and costs.

[0079] During site surveys, the power adjustment and data transmission modules of electronic shelf labels need to be frequently activated. Prolonged and frequent operation increases the risk of hardware wear and tear, shortening the equipment's lifespan. By reducing the number of site surveys in groups, the frequency of operation of the electronic shelf label hardware is lowered, reducing equipment wear and tear, extending the overall lifespan of the electronic shelf labels, and reducing the economic costs of equipment replacement and maintenance in stores.

[0080] When a store adds new shelves, it only needs to be grouped into an existing similar group based on the characteristics of the new shelf's environment. The server then directly sends the power requirements for that group to the electronic shelf labels on the new shelves, eliminating the need for separate site surveys for the electronic shelf labels. This process simplifies the deployment of new shelves and reduces the difficulty and cost of system expansion when the business scales up. For example, if a supermarket adds 10 shelves with the same grouping as the existing ones, it only needs to group them into the corresponding group in the server backend to complete the electronic shelf label power configuration, without requiring additional manpower for site surveys, allowing the shelves to be put into use quickly.

[0081] As the number of stores and shelves increases, the traditional method of managing electronic shelf labels individually for site surveying and power configuration leads to an exponential increase in system management complexity. By using group management, a large number of electronic shelf labels are categorized into groups, and the server only needs to manage and adjust power data for each group. This significantly reduces the complexity of system management, enabling the system to easily adapt to the deployment needs of large-scale, multi-store electronic shelf labels and providing technical support for business expansion.

[0082] In one embodiment, the server is used for: Identify a target electronic price tag on the target shelf and determine the operating power corresponding to the target electronic price tag as the operating power of the group to which the target electronic price tag belongs; Alternatively, obtain the operating power corresponding to all target electronic price tags on the target shelf, and determine the maximum value of the operating power corresponding to all target electronic price tags as the operating power of this group.

[0083] The ability to select any target e-shelf tag to determine grouped power eliminates the need for site surveys of all e-shelf tags on the target shelf. Instead, only one tag needs to be selected, and its power rating used as the grouped power rating. This design significantly reduces the workload of site surveys, especially in scenarios with a large number of e-shelf tags, further shortening survey time. For example, if a target shelf has 20 e-shelf tags, traditionally all 20 need to be surveyed, but this method only requires surveying one, improving efficiency by over 95%. Simultaneously, the simplified process lowers the operational threshold for staff. No complex statistical or calculation steps are required; a single e-shelf survey quickly determines the grouped power rating, accelerating system deployment or updates. For small retail stores or businesses with limited budgets, reducing the number of target shelf surveys directly reduces labor and time costs. Without investing significant manpower in surveying every e-shelf tag, grouped power rating determination requires only a few operations, maximizing cost control while ensuring power compatibility. Furthermore, reducing the frequency of use of surveying equipment (such as scanning equipment and testing tools) can also reduce equipment wear and maintenance costs, better meeting the actual needs of resource-constrained scenarios. Only the operating power of a single target electronic shelf tag needs to be obtained, eliminating the need to collect and organize power data for all electronic shelf tags on the target shelf, significantly reducing the server's data processing load. This avoids potential delays or errors during large-scale data transmission and statistical analysis, allowing the server to quickly distribute group operating power data to other shelf electronic shelf tags within the same group, improving the overall system response speed. Especially in large-scale group management scenarios, when multiple groups are simultaneously determining power, this method can significantly reduce server load and ensure stable system operation. The maximum power value of all electronic shelf tags on the target shelf is used to determine the group operating power because the operating power of each electronic shelf tag on the same target shelf may differ due to variations in product density and location (e.g., from the edge to the middle of the shelf). Using the maximum operating power value of all electronic shelf tags as the group operating power ensures that electronic shelf tags on other shelves within the same group can still stably read wireless tag identifiers even in the worst signal environments (e.g., areas with dense product distribution and strong signal attenuation). For example, a certain electronic shelf label on the target shelf, located in a corner of a metal shelf, requires 80% power to be read stably, while other electronic shelf labels only require 50%. Taking 80% as the group power avoids reading failures due to insufficient power for electronic shelf labels in similar corner positions on other shelves in the same group, thus improving the overall reliability of the system. Although shelves within the same group are divided based on similar scenarios, there may be slight differences (such as higher product stacking on some shelves or stronger local electromagnetic interference). Using the maximum power of all electronic shelf labels on the target shelf as the group power can cover the higher power requirements caused by these slight differences, ensuring that the electronic shelf labels on each shelf within the group can be adapted to their own environment.Compared to using individual electronic price tags, this method is more compatible with shelves within a group, eliminating the need to readjust groups or conduct separate site surveys for individual shelves, thus reducing subsequent maintenance workload.

[0084] Two grouping power determination methods can be flexibly selected based on actual scenarios to suit a wider range of applications. For scenarios with stable environments and minimal shelf variations (such as daily necessities shelves in standardized supermarkets), the "select any target electronic shelf label" method can be chosen to optimize efficiency and cost. For scenarios with complex environments and significant shelf variations (such as large warehouse shelves or shelves with diverse product types), the "maximum power" method can be selected to prioritize stability. This flexibility significantly enhances the technology's versatility, meeting the needs of businesses of different sizes and types. The two methods address efficiency and stability respectively, allowing businesses to choose the appropriate method based on their priorities, achieving a balance between efficiency and stability. For example, when a new store needs to quickly deploy the system, the "select any target electronic shelf label" method can be prioritized to shorten the deployment time; while for core product shelves (such as fresh produce or high-value goods), the "maximum power" method can be chosen to ensure accurate data reading and avoid impacting sales or inventory management due to power issues. This balanced design ensures that the system maintains optimal overall performance at different stages and under different needs, improving business operational efficiency.

[0085] In one embodiment, the electronic shelf label is also used for: After determining the first power as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module, the operating power corresponding to the electronic price tag, the current time and environmental information are formed into an operating condition related data packet, which is sent to the server through the communication module; The server is also used to: train a machine learning model and obtain a power range prediction model based on the historical operating condition-related data packets and location information of all electronic price tags within a second preset time period; Based on the location information, current time, and environmental information of the electronic price tag, and combined with the power range prediction model, the operating power range of the electronic price tag is predicted and sent to the electronic price tag. Electronic price tags are also used to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module according to the operating power range until the first power is found.

[0086] After determining the first power as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module, the operating power of the electronic price tag, the current time and environmental information (such as temperature and humidity, if the electronic price tag has these environmental monitoring functions) are formed into an operating condition related data packet and sent to the server through the communication module. The server periodically performs correlation analysis on all collected historical operating condition-related data packets of electronic shelf labels and previously stored electronic shelf label location information to train a machine learning model, obtaining a power range prediction model. This model is used to predict the operating power range of electronic shelf labels. The power range prediction model can analyze the distribution patterns of operating power of electronic shelf labels under different shelf locations, time periods, and environmental conditions, and identify key factors affecting operating power (such as finding that electronic shelf labels near metal shelves generally require higher operating power, and that the operating power of some electronic shelf labels may change slightly under high-temperature conditions in summer).

[0087] When a new electronic price tag enters the site survey mode, the server predicts the possible operating power range for the electronic price tag based on its location information, current time, and environmental information, combined with a power range prediction model. This operating power range is then sent to the electronic price tag. The electronic price tag performs a power step change test starting from the maximum or minimum value of the operating power range, instead of starting from a preset power (such as a maximum or minimum value), thus significantly reducing the time required to find the operating power.

[0088] In summary, the method, electronic shelf label, and electronic shelf label system proposed in this invention address the high energy consumption problem caused by fixed high power by adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label to a first power. While fixed high power operation in existing technologies can guarantee reading performance, it significantly increases the energy consumption of the electronic shelf label, shortens battery life, and increases operating costs. By finding a first power (lower than the current operating power) that can read the tag identifier, power redundancy is avoided, energy consumption is reduced, and reading stability is ensured. The above solution also solves the signal interference problem caused by improper power: excessively high power may interfere with the reading modules of adjacent electronic shelf labels, leading to misreading. A lower operating power (first power) can reduce signal overflow and lower the risk of interference. Different shelf materials, environmental conditions, and tag aging levels affect the reading distance; a fixed power is not suitable. By adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module on the electronic shelf label, the optimal power can be dynamically determined for specific scenarios, improving the adaptability of the electronic shelf label.

[0089] This invention also provides a computer device. Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a computer device in an embodiment of the present invention. The computer device 1300 includes a memory 1310, a processor 1320, and a computer program 1330 stored in the memory 1310 and executable on the processor 1320. When the processor 1320 executes the computer program 1330, it implements the above-mentioned electronic price tag control method.

[0090] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic price tag control method.

[0091] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic price tag control method.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present invention can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present invention can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0093] This invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0094] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0095] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0096] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling electronic price tags, characterized in that, include: The operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is adjusted to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The wireless tag is installed on the shelf rail and carries location information. The electronic price tag is located by reading the wireless tag's identifier through the wireless tag reading module.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power, the method further includes: Control the binding of the electronic price tag to the wireless tag; Once the electronic price tag is bound to the wireless tag, the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is controlled to operate at the second power. Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power includes: Determine whether the first power exists; If the first power is present, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

3. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first power is the minimum operating power at which the wireless tag reading module reads the identifier of the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The method further includes: The first power is determined to be the operating power of the wireless tag reader module.

4. The method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: When the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is able to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag continuously for a preset number of times at a first power, the first power is determined to be the operating power of the wireless tag reading module.

5. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, When the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag reads only the identifier of one wireless tag, the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag is the wireless tag whose identifier has been read; When the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag reads the identifiers of multiple wireless tags, the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag is the wireless tag with the highest signal strength among the multiple wireless tags.

6. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power includes: After receiving the power adjustment command from the server, the communication module on the electronic price tag adjusts the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

7. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power includes: Starting from the maximum power value among multiple configured power values ​​in the preset power group, the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is adjusted to the first power in descending order.

8. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power includes: Starting from the minimum power value among multiple configured power values ​​in the preset power group, the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is adjusted to the first power in an increasing order.

9. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Adjusting the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power includes: The signal strength in the surrounding environment collected by the wireless tag reading module within a first preset time period is obtained and input into the environmental signal strength model to determine the interference source. The environmental signal strength model is obtained by training a machine learning model based on historical signal strength data. If the interference source is present and its signal strength is greater than the strength threshold, the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag is adjusted to the first power, starting from the preset power, in the non-interference frequency band of the interference source.

10. An electronic price tag, characterized in that, include: Control module and wireless tag reader module; The control module is used to: adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic shelf label to a first power, the first power being less than a second power, the second power being the current operating power of the wireless tag reading module, and the wireless tag reading module being able to operate at the first power to read the wireless tag bound to the electronic shelf label; the wireless tag is installed on the guide rail of the shelf and carries location information, and the electronic shelf label is located by reading the identifier of the wireless tag through the wireless tag reading module; The wireless tag reading module is used to read the identifier of the wireless tag attached to the electronic price tag.

11. The electronic price tag as described in claim 10, characterized in that, Also includes: A binding module is used to control the binding of the electronic price tag to the wireless tag; The determination module is used to determine whether the first power exists; The control module is also used to: control the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to operate at a second power after the electronic price tag is bound to the wireless tag; If the first power is present, adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to the first power.

12. The electronic price tag as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first power is the minimum operating power at which the wireless tag reading module reads the identifier of the wireless tag bound to the electronic price tag; The control module is also used to: determine the first power as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module; The wireless tag reading module is used to periodically read the identifier of the wireless tag according to the first cycle and the operating power. The electronic price tag also includes a communication module that reports the identification of the wireless tag to the server.

13. The electronic price tag as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The communication module is also used for: Receive power adjustment commands from the server; The control module is used to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the electronic price tag to a first power according to the power adjustment command.

14. An electronic price tag system, characterized in that, It includes at least one electronic price tag and server as described in any one of claims 10 to 13.

15. The electronic price tag system as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The server is also used for: Electronic shelf labels are grouped according to preset grouping criteria, which include at least one of the following: shelf material, type of electronic shelf label, or size of electronic shelf label. Control all electronic price tags in each group to use the same operating power.

16. The electronic price tag system as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The server is also used for: The shelves are grouped; within each group, a target shelf containing the target electronic shelf label is identified, and the operating power of the wireless tag reading module of the target electronic shelf label on the target shelf is determined as the operating power of the group. The operating power of the wireless tag reading modules of the electronic shelf labels on at least some of the shelves in the group other than the target shelf is configured as the operating power of the group. The target electronic shelf label is an electronic shelf label whose operating power of the wireless tag reading module has been determined.

17. The electronic price tag system as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The server is used for: Identify the target electronic price tag on the target shelf and determine the operating power corresponding to the target electronic price tag as the operating power of the group to which the target electronic price tag belongs; Alternatively, obtain the operating power corresponding to all target electronic price tags on the target shelf, and determine the maximum value of the operating power corresponding to all target electronic price tags as the operating power of this group.

18. The electronic price tag system as described in claim 16, characterized in that, Electronic price tags are also used for: After determining the first power as the operating power of the wireless tag reading module, the operating power corresponding to the electronic price tag, the current time and environmental information are formed into an operating condition related data packet, which is sent to the server through the communication module; The server is also used to: train a machine learning model and obtain a power range prediction model based on the historical operating condition-related data packets and location information of all electronic price tags within a second preset time period; Based on the location information, current time, and environmental information of the electronic price tag, and combined with the power range prediction model, the operating power range of the electronic price tag is predicted and sent to the electronic price tag. Electronic price tags are also used to adjust the operating power of the wireless tag reading module according to the operating power range until the first power is found.

19. A computer device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

21. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

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